FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where are you located?

We are located in Payson, Arizona, about 1 ½ hour North East of Phoenix. We are nestled below the Mogollon Rim in the beautiful Tonto National Forest. Whether you’re planning a family portrait, a senior session, or a destination wedding, our area offers gorgeous backgrounds that will complement your memorable moment.

What will the investment be?

Sessions begin at $250, with artwork and products purchased separately. Most clients invest approximately $1,000–$1,500 in their complete portrait experience, including selections such as custom wall art, albums, gift prints, digital images, and specialty products.

Your final investment is completely up to you and will depend on the artwork and products you choose for your home and family.

What does the session fee include?

The session fee covers the time and expertise involved in creating your portrait experience, including your design consultation, photography session, viewing and ordering appointment, and professional retouching of your selected images. It also includes travel to locations within a 100-mile radius. Locations beyond that area may require an additional travel fee, giving us plenty of flexibility when choosing the perfect setting for your session.

The session fee does not include digital images, prints, or artwork. These are purchased separately during your viewing and ordering appointment.

Your session fee is due at the time of booking and reserves your date exclusively for you, so it is non-refundable. If illness or inclement weather requires us to reschedule, your session may be moved to another available date without penalty.

There is no minimum artwork or product order required.

How long does a portrait session usually take?

Session times will vary depending on the type of session we are doing. A family session with very young children will go much faster than with a large family session or a senior session with multiple outfit changes. Depending on the type of session, times can range from 1 ½ hour to 2 ½  hours.

During our family sessions, we capture photographs of the whole family, individual portraits of the kids, and capture images of Mom and Dad. If your family is large, we will also capture the different family groupings, along with the individual images.

With our extended senior sessions, we may change locations and clothing several times, adding to your session length. Please ask about your type of session, and its typical length, when you book your appointment.

Do you offer in-studio sessions?

For family and senior sessions, I do not offer in-studio sessions; I am an on-location photographer. I have a mobile studio with professional lighting and backdrops; I can come to your space to do studio-type portraits. Executive headshots can be done at your office or my home. Please inquire about this type of service.

What should I wear?

We want your clothing to be comfortable, timeless – not too trendy, and coordinate with your home and chosen location. We have created a style guide to help you prepare for your session. Once the session is booked, we will email you a copy. During our complimentary portrait design consultation, we will go over outfits, coordinating colors, and accessory recommendations that will give a polished look to your images.

How do I book my session?

You can fill out the contact form on my website, send me an email, or give me a call. At this time, I’ll answer any questions you may have, talk about your vision and pricing. After we speak and have determined we are a good match, we will get your session scheduled. Your session date is reserved once the portrait agreement and payment are received.

I work with a limited number of clients each month; I give every family or person personalized service and attention. Session dates are often reserved many weeks or even months in advance. Reservations are on a first-come basis. At certain times of the year, sessions are in high demand, such as fall. Session dates can be held for 48 hours and will only be reserved once payment is received. After 48 hours, the spot will be made available again for others to book.

Once I book my session, what happens next?

After you have selected your session date and payment has been made, you will receive an email with information about your session, a payment receipt, and a portrait guide, along with our styling guide. About two weeks or so before your session, we will have the pre-session design consultation. At this time, we will discuss your clothing, accessories that will compliment your outfits, and the location where we will be doing the session. We will go over what type of products you are interested in and where your art will be displayed. This is a great time to get to know each other and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

We had our session. When do I get to see my portraits and place an order?

About 1-2 weeks after our session, we will meet for your in-person viewing and order session in the comfort of your home or at my home studio. This is where you will finalize your portrait order. All the decision-makers must be there. During our time together, we will go through the professionally edited images from your session, select your favorites, review the options for wall portraits, albums and gift prints, etc. I will help guide you through the process, collaborate and provide expert recommendations on ways to display your images.

Orders are placed during the viewing and ordering session, and all decision-makers should be present. Payment plans are available if needed.

Can I purchase the digital files from my session?

Yes. Digital files are available, although my focus is on creating finished artwork that you can enjoy in your home for years to come.

I work with professional print labs that provide exceptional quality, accurate color, and archival products. Artwork ordered through my studio is also backed by my guarantee, so if there is ever an issue with the finished piece, I will work with you to make it right.

Digital files are also available for clients who prefer them. With the purchase of wall art or an album, I offer special pricing on digital images from your session. A la carte digital collections are available as well.

What if I need to reschedule my session or we have bad weather the day of our session?

We understand life happens, and some circumstances may require the session to be rescheduled. We appreciate as much notice as possible if you need to reschedule; however, we do understand that if you or someone else wakes up sick, we definitely don’t want to proceed with portraits until you are feeling 100%.

Since our sessions are outside on location, we check the weather days in advance of the session. If it looks like it may rain or be very windy, we will reschedule the session. Wind and hair are not pleasant to deal with, and we want you to look your absolute best and not fight wind or other adverse weather conditions.

How are your albums different from something I would create on my own?

We custom design all our albums, making them professional while keeping them personal for your family, high school/college senior, or wedding. Our album pages are made of high-quality thick photographic paper instead of magazine-type paper that is easily damaged. The albums have lay-flat pages, so there is no gap, which allows us to incorporate full spread images. All our albums are archival for over 100+ years with proper care and handcrafted in America. We do all of the design work for you and make changes as needed from your feedback.

Do you accept payments?

We understand that the experience of hiring a professional photographer to create portraits for your family is an investment, so we can offer payment plans. Please note that final payment must be made before the delivery of the product.

Do you take credit cards?

Yes, we take Visa, Mastercard and Discover